Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-11-17

| SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Nov. 10-The fol-
lowing is the Governor decision in full
in the Anarchist case:
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
Springfield, Nov. 10, 1887,
"On the Goth of August, 1886, in the
Cook county criminal court, August
Spies, Albert Parsons. Samuel Fielden,
Michael Schwab. Adolph Fischer, Geo
Engel, and Louis l.ingg, we're found
guilty by the verdict of the jury, and
afterward sentenced TO be hanged for
the murder of Matthias J. Degan. An
appeal Was taken from such findings and
sentence to the Supreme Court of the
State. That Court upon final bearing,
and after mature deliberation, unani
mously affirmed the judgment of the
Court below.
The case now comes before me by
petition OF defendants for consideration,
as Governor Of the State. 1t tue letters
of Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer. Geo.
Engel and Louis Lingg. demanding an
"au unconditional release or NJ they
express it, Il berty or Death and pro-
testing IN the strongest language against
mercy or comm utattOn of the sentence
pronounced against them can be cOnsid-
cred petitions. pardon, could it be
granted, which might imply any guilt
whatever upon the part of either OF
them, would not be such vinDieati0n
as they demsnd. Executive interven-
Iion upon the grounds insisted upon by
the four a0nve named persons, could in
no proper sense be deemed AN exercise
of the constitutional power TO grant re-
pTieveS, communications and parduus un-
less usscd upon the belief on NY part of
their entire innocence of the crime OF
which they stand convicted. A careful
consideration of the evidence 10 the
record of the trial of the parties, as well
of alleged and and claimed for that out
side of the record. has failed to produce
upon my mind any impression tending
to lmpeach the verdict of the Jury or
the judgment of the trial court or of the
Supreme Court, affirming the guilt of ail
these parties.
satisfied. therefore, as 1 am of their
guilt, | am precluded from considering
the question of Communication of the SEN
fences of Albert r. Parsons. Adolph
Fischer, George Eugel and Louis Lingg
10 Imprisonment In the penitentiary, as
they emphaticslly declare they will not
accept such comm mutation. Samuel
Fiei5en, Micbal Scbwab and August
Spies unite in a petition for executive
clemency.' Fielden and Schwab in addi-
tion present separate and supplementary
petitions for the Communication of their
sentence. While, as said above, | am
satisfied OF tie gailt of all the parties, as
found by the verdict of the jnry. which
Was sustained by the Judgments OF the
Courts, most careful consideration os
the whole subject leads me to the con-
clnsion that the sentence of tke law as
to Samuel Fielden and Michael Sch WI alb
may be modified as To each of them, 10
the interest OF humanity, and without
doing violence to public justice. And
as TO the said Samuel Fielden and Mi
chael Sch wab, the sentence is eOmmuted
to imprisonmens in the penitentiary for
life. AS to all the other above named
defendants. DO not feel justified In 10.
terferlng with the sentence of the court.
While | would gladly have come to a
similar conclusion in regard to the sem
tence of defendants August Spies. .Adolph
Fischer, George Engel, Albert R. Par
sons and Louis Lingg, 1 regret to say
that under the rlemn sense of the obli-
cations of my ot1ica, have been unable
to do 80" RICHARD r. OGLEsBY,